Kelechi Iheanacho

[kevodevo]

Didn't impress as much this game, looked his age which is understandable. He no doubt has loads to learn positionally and defending wise, didn't get himself involved at all really when he was on.

This the sort of player that does not need to 'get involved' in the way you say - serge does little, edin even less but if they score goals it does not matter.
What is very plain is he has an amazing touch for a kid - take a look at the disallowed goal and it was his sublime touch which led to it - second half jovetic scored but was slightly offside-
He has a maturity of touch which is hard to teach and that is why he worth getting a permit for. He has a bright future if he works hard

 

[jon stakes]

How good is Nwakali, Jon (and vintiz)? He was signed in the same circumstances but not taken to the USA. He was in Scotland though, I believe. The other one we were after, Musa Yahaya, joined Spurs I think.

If we do loan Kelechi out, I wonder if Nwakali will go with him as part of a package and to make the settling process easier.

Not exactly a defender, but obviously more of a defensive minded player. Very much a jack-of-all-trades, so I guess the first order of business will be to put him in an optimal role. Started as a CB for Nigeria, ended up as a box-to-box midfielder. His vast array of positions at the U17 World Cup including CB, CM, DM, RB, AM with a brief stint at LB. Technically very good (exceptionally well for his positions) and extremely good positioning.

Looked best at DM - a real anchor in midfield. Could be as good as Michael Essien.

Apparently missed the pre-season in USA because of injury.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Thanks Jon,sounds very promising.

 

[mad zab]

How good is Nwakali, Jon (and vintiz)? He was signed in the same circumstances but not taken to the USA. He was in Scotland though, I believe. The other one we were after, Musa Yahaya, joined Spurs I think.

If we do loan Kelechi out, I wonder if Nwakali will go with him as part of a package and to make the settling process easier.

Not exactly a defender, but obviously more of a defensive minded player. Very much a jack-of-all-trades, so I guess the first order of business will be to put him in an optimal role. Started as a CB for Nigeria, ended up as a box-to-box midfielder. His vast array of positions at the U17 World Cup including CB, CM, DM, RB, AM with a brief stint at LB. Technically very good (exceptionally well for his positions) and extremely good positioning.

Looked best at DM - a real anchor in midfield. Could be as good as Michael Essien.

Apparently missed the pre-season in USA because of injury.

Sounds very promising

Hopefully can learn from Yaya, Ferny and Fernando....then take over from them

 

[greasedupdeafguy]

Jon we have just signed Fernando...he will not be afringe player

Also Jovetic has had a terrible season with injury...but is a quality player.

I also think you need to remember these are pre-season games and are to gain fitness

I am sure this Nigerian squad are very good...but at the moment they are just starting out and you can only tell when they have a full season how good they may become.

Hopefully we sign Iheanacho and he becomes the superstar we are looking for. Only time will tell

Sure. I'm just saying from my experience of watching these guys at two tournaments. Yes, they were playing against other youth, but some stuff just stands out regardless of age.

The thing is with these players, that I've never before seen a group od youngsters play at the level the Nigeria U17 played. Nigeria has won the U17 World Cup before, but its not the fact that they won it that counts. It how they did it and what football they played.

BTW I have said this before, but the general consensus about this U17 team was that Iheanacho wasn't the best player, Isaac Success was (currently with Udinese, on load at Granada). Both players are mouthwatering prospects.

Just looking at some pics of this guy. No way is he 17 lol

 

[spinzer]

How good is Nwakali, Jon (and vintiz)? He was signed in the same circumstances but not taken to the USA. He was in Scotland though, I believe. The other one we were after, Musa Yahaya, joined Spurs I think.

If we do loan Kelechi out, I wonder if Nwakali will go with him as part of a package and to make the settling process easier.

Chidi is a defender. Defenders aren't all that exciting haha! He could play in midfield tho. Musa yahaha (the Nigerian neymar) is quite exciting and has a decent pass in him.

I hope they both get loan deals to ajax. Kelechi has said kanu is his mentor. Kanu played at ajax before and ajax has a history of developing talented players

Ajax doesn't take loans of other teams to develop players for them, only very few exceptions. They like to buy young players and develop themselves and then selling them so they get the fee themselves. They are in no way a breeder club :p

 

[Tbilisi]

Toe poked his shot,bollox,he hit it with the outside of his boot.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Toe poked his shot,bollox,he hit it with the outside of his boot.

Does it matter? regardless of the technique the strike was intentional and demonstrated fantastic awareness and improvisation.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

I've never understood why a toe poke is ridiculed anyway? In certain situations it's the best way to strike the ball. It's the quickest way to shoot and can catch keepers out before they've set themselves. When Ronaldinho toe pokes the ball, it's genius. When anyone else does it, it's considered a cheap tactic. Never understood it myself. I love scoring a cheeky toe poke. It's satisfying when you know it's your only way to score and then it actually works. Remember Aguero v Norwich? Surrounded in the box, nowhere to go, impossible to score. Then bam! A toe poke nutmegs their entire defence and it's 1-0. Love it!

 

[Tbilisi]

Toe poked his shot,bollox,he hit it with the outside of his boot.

Does it matter? regardless of the technique the strike was intentional and demonstrated fantastic awareness and improvisation.

All the commentators mentioned it,a toe poke to me sounds like a kid who cant kick a ball properly when I was at school wheresas the outside of the boot with the swerve he got on it is a genuine skill.

Just my mind I suppose....Jizz Jazz would have been described as outside of the boot.